Shift mechanism for manual gearbox

Abstract

A shift mechanism is disclosed for a manual gearbox of a vehicle. A transverse movement of a gear selector actuates the shift mechanism to select gear by axial translation of the gear shaft, and a longitudinal movement of the gear selector actuates the shift mechanism to shift gears by rotating the gear shaft by the action of an inertial mass. The rotation and the translation, respectively, of the gear shaft take place by way of independent parts of the shift mechanism. The mechanism for selecting gear is released from the inertial mass.

1 . A shift mechanism for a manual gearbox of a vehicle, comprising: 
 a gear selector to actuate, via a transverse movement, the shift mechanism to select a gear by axial translation of the gear shaft, and to actuate, via a longitudinal movement of the gear selector, the shift mechanism to shift gears by rotating a gear shaft by the action of an inertial mass, the rotation and translation, respectively, of the gear shaft occurring by way of a rotation-controlled sleeve, the sleeve allowing free mutual movement between the gear shaft and the sleeve in the longitudinal direction of the gear shaft, whereby the mechanism for selecting gear is released from the inertial mass.    
     
     
         2 . A shift mechanism as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a gear lever is integrated with the inertial mass, to actuate the gear shaft to be rotated about its own axis.  
     
     
         3 . A shift mechanism as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said sleeve includes an elongated hole which cooperates with a pin on the gear shaft to actuate the gear shaft to be rotated about its own axis when shifting gears.  
     
     
         4 . A shift mechanism as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the dimension of said pin is smaller than the dimension of said hole in its elongated direction along the gear shaft.  
     
     
         5 . A shift mechanism as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said elongated hole allows axial mobility of the gear shaft independently of said gear lever and inertial mass.  
     
     
         6 . A shift mechanism as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the gear shaft is biased and preloaded by the gear box in the direction of rotation, thereby avoiding play in the shift mechanism.  
     
     
         7 . A shift mechanism as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a selector lever directly actuates only the axial movement of the gear shaft via a wheel which cooperates with axial abutments of the gear shaft.  
     
     
         8 . A shift mechanism as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said elongated hole allows axial mobility of the gear shaft independently of said gear lever and inertial mass.  
     
     
         9 . A shift mechanism as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the gear shaft is biased and preloaded by the gear box in the direction of rotation, thereby avoiding play in the shift mechanism.  
     
     
         10 . A shift mechanism as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein a selector lever directly actuates only the axial movement of the gear shaft via a wheel which cooperates with axial abutments of the gear shaft.  
     
     
         11 . A shift mechanism as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the gear shaft is biased and preloaded by the gear box in the direction of rotation, thereby avoiding play in the shift mechanism.  
     
     
         12 . A shift mechanism as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein a selector lever directly actuates only the axial movement of the gear shaft via a wheel which cooperates with axial abutments of the gear shaft.  
     
     
         13 . A shift mechanism as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the gear shaft is biased and preloaded by the gear box in the direction of rotation, thereby avoiding play in the shift mechanism.  
     
     
         14 . A shift mechanism as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein a selector lever directly actuates only the axial movement of the gear shaft via a wheel which cooperates with axial abutments of the gear shaft.  
     
     
         15 . A shift mechanism as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the gear shaft is biased and preloaded by the gear box in the direction of rotation, thereby avoiding play in the shift mechanism.  
     
     
         16 . A shift mechanism as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein a selector lever directly actuates only the axial movement of the gear shaft via a wheel which cooperates with axial abutments of the gear shaft.  
     
     
         17 . A shift mechanism as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein a selector lever directly actuates only the axial movement of the gear shaft via a wheel which cooperates with axial abutments of the gear shaft.  
     
     
         18 . A shift mechanism for a manual gearbox of a vehicle, comprising: 
 means for actuating, via a transverse movement, the shift mechanism to select a gear by axial translation of the gear shaft, and for actuating, via a longitudinal movement of the gear selector, the shift mechanism to shift gears by rotating a gear shaft by the action of an inertial mass; and    a rotation-controlled sleeve, the rotation and translation, respectively, of the gear shaft occurring by way of the sleeve, the sleeve allowing free mutual movement between the gear shaft and the sleeve in the longitudinal direction of the gear shaft, whereby the mechanism for selecting gear is released from the inertial mass.